Truth and Justice - Fern Michaels Page 0,72

that she can talk to about Andy will do her a world of good. At least I think and hope it works that way. If nothing else, they become friends. His coming here is a good thing for all of us. If that makes me a hopeless romantic, then so be it.”

“It’s a good thing, dear. Don’t ever apologize,” Myra assured her.

“I think our biggest problem is who is going to cook breakfast tomorrow morning?” Kathryn said. “I’m not seeing anyone volunteering,” she said, then giggled.

“Okay, okay, I’ll do it,” Maggie grumbled.

“Oh, you dear, sweet child, thank you, thank you,” Myra gushed. “Bacon?”

“Don’t get carried away, Myra. I said I’d do the pancakes, I didn’t say anything about bacon. We need, like, three pounds for just our crew alone, and I bet that guy eats a whole pound himself,” Maggie said.

Alexis raised her hand. “Since I’m the one who got us into this mess, I guess it’s the least I can do. I’ll do the bacon.”

The Sisters clapped their hands in appreciation.

“Well, then, I think on that note we can tidy up here and head upstairs to bed. A good night’s sleep will have us fresh and dewy-eyed when we meet Mr. Montrose for breakfast. I think if we agree to meet down here at eight, it will be good. I don’t expect Mr. Montrose to arrive until around eight thirty, possibly nine o’clock. Let’s say we call it a night, girls.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

Chapter 16

Maggie stifled a yawn as she made her way down to the kitchen using the back stairway. It was early, just two minutes past seven. She had awakened at six o’clock and couldn’t go back to sleep, so she’d gotten up, showered, and was now going to start the day by cooking up a batch of pancakes.

Everyone knew she hated cooking, so she had no clue why she’d volunteered to cook breakfast for Paul Montrose. Especially pancakes. The girls all liked pancakes, which meant she was going to be making stacks and stacks of them. She figured each sister would eat at least four. Paul Montrose was probably going to be able to scoff down at least a dozen. Lordy, lordy, she’d be making pancakes till the sun went down. She giggled at the thought; then her thoughts went to Ted and how they would make breakfast on Sunday mornings, read the funnies, then hop back in bed. Those were some of the best days of her life. More days to come just like those if she didn’t get carried away over one thing or another and make a mess of her relationship with Ted.

She loved Ted. Ted loved her. For now it would stay that way because to change things might endanger their strange relationship, and she did not want that to happen. Even though she didn’t like to cook, she was actually a good cook and Ted loved, loved, loved her blueberry pancakes. She missed him and wished he and the boys would finish up their business in Seattle, which seemed to be taking much more time than anyone had thought it would. She was sure the other Sisters were wishing the same thing.

Maggie sniffed when she hit the bottom step of the stairway. Bacon! Coffee! She looked around. Alexis was already at the stove, wearing an apron. She was separating the bacon, which looked especially lean. “Wow! You’re up early,” Maggie said.

Alexis laughed. “Do you have any idea how long it takes to cook three pounds of bacon?”

“Actually, I do, so have at it. Do you have any idea how long it takes to make pancakes for just our crew, and today we have two extra mouths? Why weren’t we smart enough to suggest bagels. I would have run into town for them.”

“Because you said Mr. Montrose said he liked pancakes. And we want to be nice to Mr. Montrose, so we can pick his brain while we try to arrange something between him and Bella. Or did you forget?” Alexis teased.

Maggie poured herself a cup of coffee. “Sometimes . . . actually, a lot of times, I get caught up in the moment and say something or volunteer for something that sounds so right at that moment, but when it comes to executing whatever it is, I wish I hadn’t. Does that make sense?”

“Yep, happens to me all the time. To everyone, I think. What do you think he’s like?”

Maggie didn’t have to ask whom Alexis was referring to.